Resolution Absolution

Seventeen ways to keep your new year's resolutions

D

id you make a new year’s resolution? We did. We promised to use fewer statistics. Unfortunately, only 12 percent of people who make new year’s resolutions keep them, even though 52 percent are confident they will. Research at the University of Scranton (seriously) found that 40 to 45 percent of Americans make one or more resolutions each year (including to not make fun of Scranton). Of those, 75 percent make it past the first week, 71 percent past the first two weeks, 64 percent past one month, and 46 percent past six months. The top resolutions are about weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking, and saving money. And not using statistics. D’oh! Here are some secrets to help you join the successful fitness resolutionaries in the new year: